In my most recent book, MURDER IN THE MANUSCRIPT ROOM, one of the characters, a librarian, says after discovering she’d been under surveillance in the library and elsewhere, “Everybody’s spying on everybody.”

You’d think no institution in the nation cares much about privacy protections anymore. But you’d be wrong. There’s at least one place in the nation’s cities, towns, and most villages that respects our privacy. Public libraries care passionately about protecting the confidentiality of library users.

Keep an eye out for these book adaptations headed to the big and small screens:

Movie Mania!

SILENCE by Shusaku Endo
This movie adaptation of Endo’s classic novel of enduring faith in dangerous times, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, and Adam Driver is “shaping up to be this year’s THE REVENANT,” according to the Washington Post. While the official movie tie-in edition won’t be out until January 10, Picador’s trade paperback is available now and they’ve created a special expanded discussion guide for SILENCE, so your library’s book club can read and discuss before having a movie night out.

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen
This phenomenal and inspiring instant New York Times bestseller about a busker and recovering drug addict whose life was transformed when he met a stray ginger cat has sold more than a million copies around the world and is now a movie starring Luke Treadaway and Bob the Cat (yes, the real Bob!).

A DOG’S PURPOSE by W. Bruce CameronThe New York Times and USA Today bestseller about one endearing dog’s search for his purpose will be a major motion picture hitting theaters January 27, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Lasse Hallström and starring Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, K. J. Apa, Juliet Rylance, John Ortiz, Luke Kirby, and Peggy Lipton.